A/N: Yosh! Finally! A new chapter! So sorry for the long wait but I just finished my law midterm. Yech. Plus, I've just finished a new chapter for Not Your Ordinary Life as well so hooray! Again, I promise you, I am not abandoning Chosen One. The next chapter will come out soon! By Merlin I will have it up by Tuesday at least!
*cough*
Seriously.
Warning: A cliffie?
Review replies:
Eria: Feel free to squeal all you want. I find them painfully cute myself! And I'm the author. . . .So sorry that it took me so long to update. I knew that I'd get swamped, starting so many stories at the same time but. . . but. . . they were just BEGGING to be let loose on to you unsuspecting people! And please send me the draft soon!!!!!
Aki Sakurazuka: Ah, enthusiastic reviewers. . .my favourite! Hope you'll love my other stories as well!
DK-Adeena: Something more to their relationship? *blinks innocently* What on EARTH are you talking about? I claim my innocence! . . . . . . . . . . yeah, right. *giggle* Any guesses as to what is the REAL story?
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Chapter 26
Of Love and War
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"Welcome back!"
Kyo let loose a startled laugh as he was suddenly enveloped in a many-armed hug. The girls had all jumped on him the minute he has walked in the office that morning with Takashi but he relished it. It felt good to be back.
There was pandemonium for several minutes as everyone else gave their welcome and Kyo basked in the glow. He had missed them all terribly, now that the 16 years made clear to him, the loneliness he had suffered was all the more painful in recollection. In the end, Takashi and him managed to snag places on the office couch, Kyo wincing slightly as he sat down. Watari, attentive as ever, shot him a sharp look.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Kyo smiled. "I'm okay, really. It's nothing to worry about."
"Now don't you start young man," Watari wagged a finger at him warningly. "We don't know exactly to what extent the curse would affect you and we need to watch out for symptoms-"
"Oh, I kind of like these symptoms," Kyo said with a straight face.
"-and god knows what else will happen. . .what on earth are you talking about? Are you a glutton for pain, Shiozaki Kyo?!"
"Definitely," he deadpanned.
In the confused silence that fell, he clarified further, "Especially when it comes to this kind of pain. Makes it a bit hard to sit in the mornings but well worth it, ne, Taka?"
Takashi was too busy laughing himself sick to answer.
It took a minute before what he said sank in. Kyo counted.
Watari blushed fiercely. "Dammit Kyo!"
________________________________________________________________________
It was officially a mini-holiday in the office. No one was doing any work, least of all Takashi and Kyo who have yet to get up from the battered couch. They were sitting close together, closer than even with Watari at Kyo's side and Tsuzuki at Takashi's warranted. Their hands were clasped together, fingers intertwined even as they joked and laughed with their colleagues. It was a happy morning. After all, they had 16 years worth of gossip to tell Kyo.
The only ones missing from the impromptu celebration was Kanoe Kacho and Tatsumi. Kyo wondered at their absence, voicing out his query quietly to Watari. The others were too busy laughing at some joke Tsuzuki had cracked to pay close attention.
The bright gleam in his amber eyes dimmed slightly and Watari bit his bottom lip nervously. "They're having a meeting with Enma-Daioh. The summons came the minute we came in earlier."
Kyo stilled, his eyes frozen wide in apprehension. Beside him, Takashi had noticed the stillness and turned in silent enquiry.
"I don't know what it's about." Watari admitted slowly. "But don't worry!" he added with a forced note of cheer, "I'm sure the Shiroku can't make their accusations stick. They don't have any proof of treason after all."
"Treason?" Kyo frowned. "What are you talking about? And since when did the Shiroku got involved with the Shokan?"
It was Watari's turn to get wide-eyed and he looked amazingly owl-like. "You mean. . ." he faltered, "Don't you remember what happened yesterday?"
Kyo rolled his eyes. "Burnt skin? Blind eyes? Ring any bells? I wasn't exactly in the position to remember much of anything yesterday, Watari," he replied dryly. "Much less about work."
"Aa. . ."
Takashi leaned in and whispered in his ear. Eyes half-lidded obscured the shadows that darkened his eyes as Takashi recounted the accusations the Shiroku had made. He was furiously clenching and unclenching his fists at the end of it.
He hissed. "Those bastards!" All talk and laughter stopped immediately.
"Like Watari said," Takashi murmured soothingly, "they can't make it stick. We have nothing to worry about."
Kyo growled in response.
"Takashi-san, Kyo-san; it's good to see the both of you together again." The warm greeting effectively stopped Kyo from shooting out of the office and hunting the said Shiroku employees and disemboweling them one by one. He looked up to see Kanoe and Tatsumi both smiling down at him.
"Tatsumi-san, Kacho," he greeted, smiling back though lines of strain marred the corners of his mouth. "It's good to see you two also."
"I'm sure Watari has told you about the meeting we had this morning," Tatsumi said. All eyes were now focused on him but he didn't pay them any attention except for the two before him. The both of them, Kyo and Takashi looked like deer caught in the glare of headlights, their faces pale and hands locked together.
"Enma-sama wanted to notify us of the current status of the case involving your disappearance, Kyo-san."
Status? Kyo frowned and it was then he noticed the thick file Tatsumi clutched in one hand. The brown covers were battered from frequent handling and stamped all over it in red with evident enthusiasm as though someone had had too much caffeine, were the words 'Top Secret', 'Confidential', 'Shokan Division' and the personal chop of Enma. He could also make out, in black, legible script at the top right corner of the dog-eared file, the name Hanagawa Ayame.
"Aya. . .me?" his voice was a sudden dry croak. Takashi stiffened beside him but a moment later, gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
"No judgment was passed on Hanagawa Ayame," Kanoe's gravelly tones were trying to sound comforting. Kyo wasn't sure of he was succeeding. He was too busy trying to get his dry, cottony mouth to work.
"What do you mean, no judgment?" Takashi asked sharply.
"Not that Enma-sama didn't want to," Kanoe assured them all. "But he couldn't."
"Why not?!" Watari demanded indignantly. "He's the God of Death and Judgment isn't he?! How can he not pass judgment! That only happens when. . ." his words trailed off into a thoughtful silence and an instant later, his eyes widened again. Very 003, Kyo thought distractedly.
"Oh, dear Enma," Watari whispered in horror.
"What? What are you saying?" Kyo managed despite his stiff tongue. He ignored the hand rubbing soothing circles on his back, only noticing that the others had jerked back as though together realizing something too awful to say out loud.
"Her soul was sent directly to Makai, the Seventh Layer," Tatsumi said softly. "It's the fate for those who make blood and sacrificial compacts with the demons. Eternal torment. She will not be granted salvation."
Kyo blinked rapidly, trying to fathom his words. But it appeared that his mind was too fixated on the words Seventh Layer, sacrificial compacts and eternal torment to think much of anything else. He was aware then of the heavy silence as everyone waited to see his reaction. Only he couldn't really give one. He wasn't sure how to react.
With fierce joy? Ayame had taken him from Takashi's side and locked his soul in a fiery prison for 16 long years.
With sadness? Ayame was his wife. No matter that it was based on a lie.
With horror? Ayame was the mother of his child. His child who had killed her own mother.
With acceptance?
Acceptance of what though? The nightmare has yet to end. Aki was still out there. Aki and a god who looked like Fire.
"I need some chocolates," Kyo mumbled but found the sudden tight embrace from Takashi a sufficient substitute. He burrowed his way into Takashi's arms, letting the soft, nonsensical murmurs and gentle rubbing drive away the tremors that shook his body. Slowly, the general conversation started again, with everyone determined to talk about anything but Ayame. But they had yet gotten into it with the proper enthusiasm when Tatsumi cleared his throat.
"Kyo-san?"
Reluctantly, he pulled himself from Takashi, squaring his shoulders resolutely and pasted a smile on his wan face.
"Yeah?"
"Enma-sama wanted to see the two of you," he nodded at Kyo and Takashi, "Myself. Kacho, Watari and Kurosaki-kun. It's about the accusations made by the Shiroku. Their representatives will be there as well." His lips curled with his personal opinion of the said representatives.
"Enma-sama. . .accusations?" Kyo said faintly. The thought of meeting Enma-Daioh was making him more than a little nervous, a sentiment he knew shared by everyone mentioned except Kanoe himself. But the chief had the benefit of years of tolerance build-up. But Tatsumi was doing a pretty good job of looking calm and collected too. Watari was sputtering in stunned amazement and Hisoka had squeaked in surprise. Takashi was keeping quiet.
"Don't worry about it, Kyo-san," Kanoe smiled warmly. "They don't have a case and Enma-sama knows it. This is just for formality. The meeting will be at 2.30 at the Hall of the Dead. Don't be late, ne?" With that, Kanoe smiled a last, fatherly smile at them and walked to his office.
The buzz of excited talk started around him, Watari eagerly pressing Tatsumi for details about the upcoming meeting and Tsuzuki assuring a very agitated Hisoka that meeting gods was not really that nerve-wracking.
Kyo shook his head a few times, trying to rouse himself from the slight stupor. The daze had lifted a bit and he turned to see what was keeping Takashi so quiet despite the little bombshell that just dropped.
His yell shook the windows and startled the cooing doves outside.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT CIGARETTE, MATSUMADA TAKASHI??!!"
________________________________________________________________________
Kyo shifted nervously, trying not to fidget too much. He was sitting on a plump cushion, clothed in the softest silk but it felt as though he was sitting on pins and needles. Every spot was uncomfortable and every twitch a loud shout. He had good reason, he believed, for his agitation. It was not everyday that you get to meet Enma-Daioh.
Never mind that as Shinigami, they were the highest-ranking employees of the JuuOhCho. Only Kanoe had been accorded the privilege of meeting the deity and he much preferred it that way. It was distinctly intimidating.
All of them had arrived precisely on time (who would dare to keep a god waiting?), even Ichijiro Hatatsu and Kazuma Kato. Tsuzuki called them something else entirely. Something to do with dogs, lizards and someone's parents. He hadn't been paying attention at that time since he was too busy yelling at Takashi about how disgusting smoking was.
The huge golden doors had opened on their own accord at their arrival and attendants clothed in white kimonos and shadowy faces had ushered them inside quietly. He was pretty sure none of the mysterious attendants spoke or touched him in any way but Kyo suddenly found himself sitting down on the centre cushion, Takashi on his right and Kanoe and Tatsumi on Takashi's. Hisoka and Watari were to his left and closing up that end were Ichijiro Hatatsu and Kazuma Kato.
The two of them, despite flinching whenever their eyes landed on him, looked vaguely triumphant.
Kyo decided right there and then that Tsuzuki was right.
Bring his mind back to the present, Kyo squirmed uncomfortably again. The others, even the Shiroku people were fidgeting as well, except Kacho. He figured it had to do with immunity or something. He really wished he sat somewhere else. Everyone was seated in a straight row opposite the raised dais but his cushion was directly facing Enma-Daioh. Kyo had taken one look at Enma and promptly locked his eyes on the tatami. He was aware of long, gold hair that shimmered, throwing off faint sparkles in the air and an ageless face that showed wisdom beyond that of anything comprehensible and the utter remoteness of a god. Fierce rapture washed over him as well, but with it came a sorrow so vast that he felt like wailing at the same time. The extremes of every spectrum of emotions played him like a violin tuned too taut, threatening to snap without notice. His breathing became laboured as his heart raced. Sweat dripped into his eyes, burning them and beside him, he could hear Hisoka's teeth chattering and Takashi gasping for breath.
This is ridiculous! he thought despairingly. How the hell are we going to have a meeting if we can't even stand his presence?!
"Have some tea. They're quite delicious. Freshly brewed."
The completely inane, bland tone shook them out of their shock as effectively as ice-cold water thrown into their faces. Blinking dazedly, they noticed that steaming cups of hot, green tea had appeared, along with plates of moist cakes.
"Please, try some," Enma smiled.
He had toned down his majesty, Kyo realized as looking straight into Enma's face this time hadn't caused his brain to hemorrhage. Kyo was grateful for that. He was quite fond of his sanity.
There were quiet murmurs of assent from everyone as hands that still trembled a bit picked up delicate china and the hot tea was carefully sipped.
"Delicious?"
Kyo found himself eye to eye again with Enma and he blushed. "Yes, my Lord," he mumbled.
"Very well. Now as I understand it, treason has been accused of my Shinigami. Is this correct?"
Several choked back hot liquid that threatened to spray out and Kyo himself nearly upsetting his cup as he was setting it down on the small table that had appeared with the tea and cakes.
"Ichijiro Hatatsu and Kazuma Kato of the Shiroku." All traces of geniality were gone from the ageless voice and Kyo winced. He prayed that that same tone won't be used with him. "Tell me what the Shinigami Act of the year 135 states in Section 35A."
The exultant gleam in their eyes which had resurfaced after the initial shock faded again to be replaced with fear. The thin one, Kazuma, looked as though he was about to be sick to his stomach and Ichijiro fared no better. But the plump man gathered himself and spoke tremulously. "M-my Lord. . . 'all matters pertaining to the Shinigami shall remain in the jurisdiction of the Enma-Cho, to be handled by Enma-Daioh himself. No party or department is allowed to intervene.'"
The reply came like the crack of a whip. "Then tell me what provision allowed you, of the Shiroku, to bring up matters of treason against the Shinigami without first even consulting my Court?"
Kazuma answered him, meekly, but still trying to salvage the situation. "We feared that these rogues would go too far my Lord! Already, by the time we caught on to them there was one death and a forced transfer between worlds! What else would they have resorted to in dealing with their personal problems and-"
"Silence!"
His command reverberated through the long Hall, echoes bouncing yet strangely dying off the instant you thought you heard one. The featureless black that was the shrouded ceiling above lightened briefly, flaring in an actinic glare before settling to deep darkness again.
"Ichijiro. Revised Shinigami Act year 256 Section 1A."
". . .no effort shall be spared in reclaiming lost Shinigami. Those of the JuuOhCho who so chooses to obstruct and hinder such efforts will be. . .stripped of their rank. . ." Ichijiro turned a pale green.
Enma let the silence stretch to near breaking point before stating in a cold voice, "Exactly."
The tumult was instantaneous. Ichijiro and Kazuma fell forwards, foreheads pressing to the tatami as they cried out for mercy. Grown men were reduced to groveling, sniveling sobs as they crawled on their bellies to the dais and Kyo watched with a sort of distant horror and grim satisfaction. The two of them were wailing now, loud shrieks that made him wince.
"Enough."
Kyo had to marvel at the effectiveness of Enma's one-worded commands. They worked like a charm. The wails were silenced immediately but Ichijiro and Kazuma still lie trembling on the floor. Neither dared to raise their heads.
"This matter shall be excised from the records," came Enma's judgment. "None of you shall speak of it again."
"Thank you my Lord, thank you," Ichijiro and Kazuma chorused in audible relief. They pushed themselves back to their knees, faces slack with gratitude.
"However, if I should hear of any rumours whatsoever circulating concerning the so-called treason of the Shinigami again," his golden eyes burned in fierce anger at the cowering men, "I will resign the two of you and eternal nothingness will be your punishment."
Even the Shinigami present winced at the pronouncement. It was perhaps the harshest punishment an employee of the JuuOhCho could face. All of them were assured of their places in Joukai after their term of employment ends. It helps the centuries pass by faster. But to face eternal void. . .Makai would be far better. At least, salvation was still possible.
And Ichijiro and Kazuma were properly cowed. They didn't dare face the wrath of Enma again, keeping their faces down. As they shuffled back, cringing every step of the way, the ghostly attendants surrounded them, herding them to the waiting golden doors. Even the shadowy attendants held an air of reproof about them.
Without a sound, the doors shut close behind the still whimpering men. The attendants melted back into the shadows and the Shinigami were alone with their god.
"Well, now that that piece of unpleasantness is over," Enma smiled gently, "shall we get down to the real crux of today's meeting?"
Once again, his gold eyes fell on Kyo and with a start, Kyo realized that Kacho was looking at him as well, an eyebrow raised. It clearly meant, he's talking to you kid.
Kyo coughed. "My. . .my Lord?"
"Kanoe has briefed me on what happened, including yesterday. And I'm sure you have been made aware of what befell Hanagawa Ayame. How are you feeling?"
"I'm. . .I'm fine my Lord," Kyo shifted nervously. "Thank you for asking." He bowed deep from the waist down.
Enma dismissed his thanks, still smiling. "I have told Kanoe this many times. The Shinigami are like my children. It is my duty and joy to care about each and every one of you."
He left them little time to take in this startling news before turning to Takashi.
"And you, Takashi?" he asked gently. "How are you holding up?"
Takashi appeared surprised by the question. He obviously thought that Enma had wanted to continue talking to Kyo. He floundered for a few seconds before mimicking Kyo's action, bowing deep. "I am as well as can be expected my Lord. As long as I have Kyo with me, nothing else matters." His hand stole out then to grasp Kyo's cold ones, squeezing gently.
Kyo squeezed back, shooting him a grateful smile. Enma cocked his head to the side, his golden hair sliding off one shoulder like water over silk.
"A beautiful thing, love is," Enma said.
"It is my Lord," Kyo replied softly. "Love has gotten us through many things together."
"Is your love strong?" Enma asked suddenly.
"Yes my Lord," Kyo and Takashi chorused together.
"Stronger than life?"
"Stronger than death," Kyo whispered.
"Stronger than damnation," Takashi whispered.
The silence that fell this time needed no shout and despite this, the featureless ceiling glowed again, the actinic glare a soft white that came and went like a dancing breeze.
"I hope you are right." Enma's murmured words broke the spell.
Blinking, Kyo and Takashi tore their gazes away to meet the baffled looks of their colleagues. All of them shrugged minutely, not knowing what that meant.
"As I said, we are here to discuss something important. Something that concerns all of us, especially you, Shiozaki Kyo and Matsumada Takashi."
"Us, my Lord?" Takashi tried tentatively.
Enma smiled a strangely bitter smile that twisted their hearts in sympathetic grief. But before it could swell into something unmanageable, the bitterness was gone. Once again, calmness descended upon them and they relaxed into the warmth.
"We are here," Enma announced gravely, "to talk about War."
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to be continued
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A/N: War? What does this mean? Who's going to war with whom? But first, when the hell am I going to explain about Aki and Hino?!
Vote!
Does anyone want Kyo and/or Takashi to die? As in total death, goodbye, no Shinigami, it's off to heaven with you kind of dead?
Note: Shaynie; you've been wanting Hisoka-angst so you better be reading Why you should never kick Muraki in the balls! I'm sorry I can't work it in here but hey, at least this new Hisoka-angst is set with the canon characters, ne?